Cut the Fat - Number 1

Ah, here we are: the top spot. The number one stop at our seven day journey of cutting fat of some of the most essential Glam records ever produced. So we talked about Motley Crue and RATT. Dished on Slaughter and even Aerosmith. So now what? What's left? Well, honestly a lot. But I thought it would be fun to pick a massively successful record for the top spot. Sure, it's a little controversial but that always get a discussion moving.

So...the album is Slippery When Wet and the dud track is "Wild in the Streets."

Slippery When Wet is one of the best selling albums of all time, let alone a big time player in the Glam arena. The singles from Slippery are iconic to the entire Glam 80s: "Livin' on a Prayer," "Wanted Dead or Alive" and "You Give Love a Bad Name" are some of my favorite songs ever. Of course, every song on an album can't be a "10." I mean, that rarely happens, right? There's usually a weak section of an album and I'd argue that's what happened on Slippery. Sure, most of the album's 10 tracks are good but the second half (or side-B for you old school vinyl lovers) is a little weaker than the A-side. It's unfortunate such a rocking album had to end with "Wild in the Streets" because I think the tune is just too weak for Slippery. Sure, it's slick (slippery even, ha!) and highly produced but it's also massively cheesy and the lyrics just don't match the rest of the record. Maybe it's just a little too much of a rehash for me because all the song's themes had already been covered on Slippery to that point and the guitar solo ain't great either.

So there you go. I'm sure you'll crucify me for this choice but it had to be done. Bon Jovi is a great, great band but they make mistakes too and "Wild in the Streets" is one of them I'm afraid.

Slippery When Wet track listing:

Let It Rock
You Give Love A Bad Name
Livin' On A Prayer
Social Disease
Wanted Dead Or Alive
Raise Your Hands
Without Love
I'd Die For You
Never Say Goodbye
Wild In The Streets

Agree? Disagree? Thoughts? 

Cut the Fat - Number 2

It's time to cut some more fat. I struggled with this one because there were many possibilities when it comes to RATT. The band is one of my favorites - I've seen them live a dozen or so times! Still, each RATT record usually has some filler and that meant I had to choose the tightest record and go from there.

So what album did I choose to cut from? Ratt & Roll 8191 of course.

As a greatest hits album, all the fat should be gone. But alas, it's not. What would I cut?

"Heads I Win, Tails You Lose."

I actually listen to 8191 a lot but I always blow by "Heads I Win, Tails You Lose." The song is from Detonator, an album I really enjoy. I just think "Heads I Win, Tails You Lose" is too contrived, what with Desmond Child writing the song and Jon Bon Jovi singing on it. To my recollection it wasn't even a single, but I could be mistaken on that bit of trivia.

Let's not misconstrue that last paragraph. I actually think Desmond Child helped RATT a lot and the ballad "Givin' Yourself Away" is very good. In fact, I think that song could work for a lot of artists in many genres. But man, "Heads I Win, Tails You Lose" does nothing for me. I like Stephen Pearcy's raspy voice but on this song it grates on my nerves. Now that RATT is on a new label (Loud & Proud) and has released the awesome new Infestation I wonder what future greatest hits packages will look like?

Ratt & Roll 8191 track listing:

Tell the World            
You Think You're Tough            
Round and Round            
Wanted Man            
Back for More            
Lack of Communication            
Lay It Down            
You're in Love            
Slip of the Lip            
Dance            
Body Talk            
Way Cool Jr.            
I Want a Woman            
Lovin' You's a Dirty Job            
Shame Shame Shame            
Givin' Yourself Away            
One Step Away            
Heads I Win, Tails You Lose            
Nobody Rides for Free

Agree? Disagree? Thoughts?



Cut the Fat - Number 3

We're getting to the heart of the discussion now when it comes to cutting the fat off essential Glam records. Aerosmith is my favorite band but that doesn't mean I view and critique all their albums through rose colored glasses. Absolutely not. In fact, I'm the first person to say when a new Aerosmith album or track doesn't live up to the band's legacy. Whew. So, over the past couple of days, we've cut the fat from Motley Crue, Slaughter, Def Leppard and LA Guns. Now Aerosmith is on the block.

Get A Grip came out in 1993 and may just be the most important album of my lifetime. No, it's not my favorite album of all time - that's Aerosmith Rocks - but Get A Grip introduced me to the band, thanks in large part to the famous Alicia Silverstone video trilogy that was on MTV every 12 seconds between 1993 and 1994. Think about it: Get A Grip has "Cryin'" and "Livin' on the Edge." Imagine my young teenage surprise when I discovered Aerosmith's awesome back catalog all because of their modern "pop metal" hits.

I'm about to reveal a big secret: I've always thought "Crazy" to be a dud of a single. In fact, I think it ruins Get A Grip and I'd argue it was only a successful single because of the video featuring Alicia Silverstone and Liv Tyler. The video is hot - the song - not so much. I don't know if I can even adequately express why I don't like "Crazy." It has to be the too-slow pace for the lyrics and Tyler's voice on the tune. Oh, and the lyrics do kind of suck. I always hate when this song comes up in a live show - although not as much as "Don't Wanna Miss a Thing." That's another entire post.

Get A Grip track listing: 

Intro
Eat The Rich
Get A Grip
Fever
Livin' On The Edge
Flesh
Walk On Down
Shut Up And Dance
Cryin'
Gotta Love It
Crazy
Line Up
Amazing
Boogie Man

Agree? Disagree? Thoughts?

Cut the Fat - Number 4

The hits keep coming, friends. We're counting down seven records that are a little too heavy for their own good. Yeah, we're ditching the dud tracks and keeping 'em lean and mean.

Everyone knows I'm a big LA Guns fan. These days, I tend to side with Tracii Guns' version of the band but once upon a Glam time, both Tracii and Phil Lewis were actually in the same band (can you imagine that?!) and made some awesome tunes. One of the most awesomest of awesome Glam records is Cocked & Loaded. The album features my favorite LA Guns track "Malaria" and also "The Ballad Of Jayne" and "Never Enough." Now, I wouldn't be talking about Cocked & Loaded if I didn't think there was one less-than-perfect track.

What has to go? "Showdown (Riot On Sunset)." I just think the tune is a little less inspired than the rest and we all know Cocked & Loaded is LA Guns' masterpiece.

Cocked & Loaded track listing:

Letting Go
Slap In The Face
Rip And Tear
Sleazy Come Easy Go
Never Enough
Malaria
The Ballad Of Jayne
Magdalaine
Give A Little
I'm Addicted
17 Crash
Showdown (Riot On Sunset)
Wheels Of Fire
I Wanna Be Your Man

Agree? Disagree? Thoughts?

Cut the Fat - Number 5

We've been having fun cutting the fat from classic Glam albums, haven't we? So far, we've cut down some Motley Crue and Slaughter. Today, let's cut Def Leppard. Pyromania is one of the best rock albums of the 80s. The tunes on Pyromania made Def Leppard a household name and the album is perfect - almost. In my opinion, there's one tune on Pyromania that's always seemed a little out of place.

The dud? "Action! Not Words" of course.

I don't get it. There's all these iconic Lep tunes like "Photograph," "Too Late for Love" and "Billy's Got a Gun" and then there's "Action! Not Words." The song's pace is nutty, the gang vocals are annoying and it just doesn't match the rest of the record in terms of quality. Plus the lyrics are annoying and I think Joe Elliott sounds over produced.  Maybe if the track wasn't placed after "Comin' Under Fire" it would work, but even alone, "Action! Not Words" sort of stinks up side 2 of Pyromania. The song actually charted in America which is baffling and truly shows just how big the Leps were in the 80s. Still, I say delete "Action! Not Words" from Pyromania and it's a keeper - a true Glam gem.

Pyromania track listing:

Rock Rock (Till You Drop)
Photograph
Stagefright
Too Late For Love
Die Hard The Hunter
Foolin'
Rock Of Ages
Comin' Under Fire
Action! Not Words
Billy's Got A Gun

Agree? Disagree? Thoughts?

Fans Asked to Help Fund Quiet Riot Documentary

 Quiet Riot will be forever entrenched in metal history. The band reached the top of the Billboard chart with 'Metal Health,' marking the first time a metal band reached such achievement.

Now, Quiet Riot drummer Frankie Banali is hard at work on creating a full length documentary of the band's history. The documentary will focus on the band's rise to stardom in the 1980s and end with singer Kevin DuBrow's sudden death in 2007.

The video footage is from Banali's personal collection. The documentary will include never-before-seen interviews and backstage footage.

"The moment my friend Kevin DuBrow died, my life and career went from sixty to zero with his final breath," Frankie Banali commented via press statement. "But now, DuBrow and Quiet Riot will receive a much-deserved video retrospective, that will leave no stone unturned. Get ready to bang your head and feel the noize once more!"

While Banali has already invested money into the project, he's asking fans for help. The drummer is hosting an online fundraiser to raise cash. The money raised will directly go to completing the documentary and different pledge levels come with various perks. Click to become a backer by September 2nd.



Cut the Fat - Number 6

Let's continue to Cut the Fat. Yesterday, we discussed Motley Crue's Red, White & Crue and I admitted that I think "Use It Or Lose It" is, well, fat. Some of you agreed, others didn't and basically we had an awesome discussion. Let's keep it going. Today, let's Cut the Fat from Slaughter's Stick It To Ya.

Oh I how I love Stick It To Ya. I mean, it's sort of a perfect Glam record...and Slaughter brought us "Fly to the Angels" which might be one of the best songs...ever. But, there's one dud on the band's debut. Some fat: "Loaded Gun."

"Loaded Gun" is sort of a debacle. I think it's sort of an homage to Kix in the song's structure and Mark Slaughter's phrasing, but man. I don't get it. You've got "Up All Night," "Burnin' Bridges," "Fly to the Angels, "Mad About You" and then..."Loaded Gun." 

I can't listen to "Loaded Gun" anymore because it's so evident Mark is just shredding his vocal chords for no reason. The weird talking over the track is distracting and the guitar parts are ho-hum. I think Stick It To Ya would be stronger without "Loaded Gun."

Stick It To Ya track listing:

Eye to Eye
Burnin' Bridges
Up All Night
Spend My Life
Thinking of June
She Wants More
Fly to the Angels
Mad About You
That's Not Enough
You Are the One
Gave Me Your Heart
Desperately
Loaded Gun
Fly to the Angels (acoustic)
Wingin' It

Agree? Disagree? Thoughts?